Becoming an organ donor is one of the most important decisions you can make. In 2000, 3,916 Americans died while waiting for a transplant. On May 6, 2000, 55,560 patients in the United States were awaiting transplants. When deciding to become an organ donor, consider these facts:
- Your donor status has no effect on the care you receive
- Organ and tissue recovery occurs only after every effort has been made to save your life
- Organs are removed surgically from the donor without disfiguring the body
- People of any age and with any medical history can be donors
If you decide to become an organ donor, share your decision with your family. Signing a donor card doesn’t guarantee your organs will be donated, so make sure your loved ones know what you want.
